Gasoline dispensing nozzle



July 25, 1944.

L. F. HAMMAND GASOLINE DISPENSING NOZZLE Filed Nov. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR.

July 25, 1944. HAMMAND 2,354,209

GASOLINE DISPENS I'NG NOZZLE Filed Nov. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

7 even under normal conditions.

Patented Jul 25,1944

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GASOLINE DISPENSING NOZZLE Lowell F. Hammand, Washington, D. 0. Application November s, 1941, Serial No. 419,524

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as 1 amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 10 Claims.

The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to fluid dispensing nozzles and more particularly to a gasoline dispensing nozzle including an automatic shutoff mechanism whereby the flow of fuel will be I shut off responsive to immersion of the nozzle tip in liquid.

Numerous attempts have been made in the prior art to provide an automatic shut-off nozzle whereby the flow of liquid would be automatically discontinued as the liquid level in a container being filled approached its upper limit, but insofar as these devices are known to the applicant they have been entirely unsatisfactory in practical use.

Most of the prior art devices have been objectionable in that they included unnecessarily complicated and expensive mechanisms, or because they failed to operate uniformly under differing conditions of pressure or rate of flow of the fluid.

The prior art structures known to the present applicant have also been objectionable in that they have been extremely uncertain in operation Since devices of this character ordinarily utilize relatively small forces as, for example, the buoyancy of small floats or variations of atmospheric pressure operating on diaphragms or pistons, it is essential that the design and construction of the devices be such that the small forces permit positive operation of the mechanism.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a dispensing nozzle including a valve and pivoting valve operating lever, together with a diaphragm or other pressure responsive element so arranged that when the tip of the dispensingnozzle spout is submerged in fluid, the pivot of the valve operating lever will be released to close the valve.

Another prime object of the present invention is toprovide an automatic shut-off dispensing nozzle whereby the relatively large forces controlling the shut-off valve may be positively operatedand controlled by relatively small forces incident to the pressure variations within the nozzle. g

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mechanical movement constituting a latching structure adapted to maintain itself against a relatively great force and to release said force responsive to forces of extremely small magnitude.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic shut-off liquid dispensing nozzle including a pressure reduction mechanism com-- prising a toggle joint arranged to assume a position close to but short of a dead center position whereby the force of the valve spring will bias the toggle toward its released position, and latch mechanism to maintain the toggle against release.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic shut-off nozzle including a valve and pressure operated diaphragm, together with a pressure reduction mechanism comprising a toggle joint adapted to reach a dead center position to maintain the valve in open position, and a toggle actuator adapted to shift the toggle from the dead center position responsive to the operation of the pressure diaphragm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical movement comprising a latching structure adapted to support a relatively great force and to be positively released by a force of minor magnitude, the structure including a toggle joint arranged to assume a critical position such that the toggle may be broken by a very minute force, together with the combination of a release latch to prevent accidental release and toggle actuator, and means whereby the toggle joint may be concurrently unlatched and actively urged toward released position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic shut-ofi nozzle includin a relatively few parts of rugged construction and simple mechanical operation and adapted to economical methods of manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic shut-oil? nozzle including a rarifled air chamber, a suction port, and a Venturi valve seat whereby the Venturi chamber is arranged on the valve seat, in order that the device will exert operating suction under widely different rates of flow, as when the valve is completely Fig. 5 is afragmental. detail sectional view of a modified form of valve and valve seat for use with the above structure.

The nozzle structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a valve housing or body portion generally indicated at I consisting of a tubular handle portion- II including an inlet passageway I2 having a neck portion" I3. The neck portion I3 includes an outlet passageway I4 having a restricted venturi section I5 terminating in a threaded forward end constituting a mounting collar I6 for the dispensing spout I1. The valve body is. provided with a valve, seat 2| interconnecting the inlet passageway I2 with the outlet passageway I4 and arranged to be closed by'a valve 22 having a valve stem 23 arranged to extend exteriorly of the valve body Ill, so that the lower extremity 24 of the valve stem will be outside of the valve body and adapted for manual actuation. Preferably, a gland or other suitable sealing structure (not shown) is arranged to be tightened around the stem 23 by means of the sealing cap 25.

The valve 22 is normally forced into firm enagcment with the valve seat 2| by a relatively heavy coiled. compression spring 26 having its up-' per end supported by the threaded closure cap 21 and having its lower end bearing directly against the valve 22. The closure cap 21 is threaded into the valve body and is preferably provided with a sealing gasket 28 and drilled at 29 to provide a guide for the upper end 3| of the valve stem,

It is contemplated that the valve 22 is to be opened manually, and to this end a valve operating lever 32 is pivoted on a pivot pin 33 positioned somewhat forwardly of the lower extremity 24 of th valve stem. Th valve operating lever 32 is offset at 34 so that the handle portion remote from the pivot 33 will lie substantially parallel with the handle portion II of the valve body, so that the operator may grasp the handle I I and the valve handle 32 in one hand and open the valve by drawing the lever 32 toward the valve body. The actuating lever 32 is protected ainst accidental opening or damage by a lever uard 35 secured to the end of the handle portion I I by any convenient means, as by the flange 36, and including a relatively straight portion 31 spaced apart from the valve body and extending forwardly in a position m'ore or less parallel with the handle portion II. The forward curved end 38 of the handle guard is arranged to be secured to the lower side of the valve neck I3 by a plurality of cap screws (not shown), which extend through the flange-39. The forward portion of the handle guard 35 is provided with a pair of relatively wide side Walls 4I spaced apart from each other to define a cavity 42 in the forward portion of the valve guard in front of the valve stem andbelow the neck I3 and outlet passageway I4 for purposes to be hereinafter described.

The lower portion of the forwardly extending neck I3 of the valve body is widened to provide a rarified air chamber 45 over which a flexible fabric diaphragm 46' is clamped by a flange 41. The diaphragm 46 may be of any resilient material but is preferably formed of multiple thicknesses of thin cloth treated in such a manner as to make it impervious to air and commonly known in the trade as "airplane cloth. The diaphragm i circular in shape so that it entirely closes the lower side of the aperture 45. It is, provided with a pair of center plates 48 to reinforce the fabric diaphragm and to provide III a mounting for a post 49 to which the latch release mechanism is attached.

The rarified air cavity 45 is interconnected chamber 45 through the suction port 5| will be. replaced by air entering the side port 52 of the nozzle spout I1. The air from the port '52 enters through the orifice 53 in the block 54 secured on the inner circumference of the spout, and

passes thencethrough the vent tube 58, which extends upwardly through the spout I1 and communicates with the air chamber 45 through the air inlet port 59.

It will be noted that the block 54 is positioned entirely within the nozzle spout I1 and is therefore entirely protected against accidental damage.

It has been mentioned previously that one of the objects of the invention has been to provide a novel and improved release mechanism for the pivot pin on which the valve control handle is mounted in order that the relatively small atmospheric force actuating the shut-off diaphragm may be utilized to release the comparatively large force of the coiled compression spring 26 and force the valve 22 into closed position, and in firm engagement with the valve seat 2I. To accomplish this result, the valve pivot pin 33 is mounted in a pair of slots 6I provided in each of the side walls H of the linkage cavity 42 so that when not maintained by mechanism hereinafter described the forward end of the valve operating lever 32 may snap outwardly responsive to the outward force of the valve stem, so that the valve 22 will be in closed position notwithstanding the fact that the rear end of the -valve operating lever 32 is moved into engagement with th fiange'36 of the guard 35.

The lever mounting pin 33 is maintained in position at the upper extremity of the slot 6| by a toggle joint comprising a pair of links 62 extending between the pin 33 and the center pivot pin 64-of the toggle. The center pivot pin 64 serves to join the pair of links 62 with a third link 65 pivoted on the stationary toggle pivot 66. A coil spring 61 is wound around the stationary pivot 66 and has its opposite ends anchored to the handle guard and the link 65, respectively, in order to urge the link 65 in a counter-clockwise direction around the pin 66 so that, unless forces of greater magnitude act on the toggle joint, the spring 61 will draw the links 65, center pin 64, links 62, and pivot pin 33 to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In this connection, it will be pointed out that the links 62 are curved at a point intermediate the pivots 33 and 64 so that the three pivots 64, 66 and 33 may approach a dead center position, although they will be prevented from assuming a true dead center position by reason of the contact of the side of the links 62 against the stationary pin 66, for purposes to be hereinafter described. It will also be noted that the link 65 is provided with a dog 68 at its upper end which will be engaged follows:

sageway I2 into the passageway I4 through the Venturi tube I5 and outwardly through the nozzle spout II and into the container. During this time, the action of the Venturi tube I5 will withdraw air from the air chamber 45, but inasmuch as the air chamber 45 is vented through the air inlet 52, and vent tube 58, the pressure within the air chamber 45 will not be substantially reduced and the diaphragm 46 will not be caused to operate. When the level of the liquid in the container being filled rises to a point above the end of the spout II, the liquid will close the oriflce '52 or the restricted needle valve 51 and since the flow of liquid through the restricted orifice will be far less than the flow of air through the same orifice, the vent 58 will be, to all intents and purposes, closed by the rising level of the liquid. When this occurs, the continued action of the Venturi tube I5 will continue to withdraw air through the suction port III and cause a substantial reduction of pressure in the air chamber 45 so that the atmospheric pressure of the surrounding air (which is in communication with therlower surface of the diaphragm 46 through the linkage cavity 42) will force the diaphragm 45 upwardly against the comparatively light resistance of the leaf spring I2. I The leaf spring I2 acts as a pivot for the anchored end of the pressure reduction lever II as well as acting as a spring, so that when the outer end of the lever II is drawn upwardly the latching notch 69 is disengaged from the latching dog 58 on the toggle joint.

It will be noted,'in passing, that the latching dog 59 is positioned at a point less than half of the distance between the pivot spring I2 and the diaphragm post pivot 13 so that the movement of the diaphragm has adecided mechanical advantage over the latching surfaces and a very small-effort on the diaphragm is suflicient to overcome the friction incident to the engagement of the latch 59 so that the release operation of the mechanism will be .entirely positive, notwithstanding the fact that the pressure differential on the opposite sides of the diaphragm may be rather small. I

When the latch 59 disengages the dog 58 of the toggle joint, the force of the coiled compression spring 25 of the main valve 22 will straighten the toggle to move the pivot 33 to the lower end of the slot 5| and close the valve. This action will be readily understood when it is recalled that while the three pivots of the'toggle joint have approached their dead center position they are prevented from reaching a true dead center by the contact of thelink 52 with the anchor pin 55. As illustrated, the centers of the pins 55 and 33 define an angle of about with respect to the center of the pivot 84. Thus, when the lever 32 is operated, the .force of the compression spring 23 will urge the pivot pin 33 down- .wardly in the slot BI and will tend to bias the toggle joint toward its released position. It will be understood, of course, that since the toggle links are near their dead center locations, the

- force tending to bias the linkage to its released position will be extremely small as compared to the total force-of the spring 26, but it will nevertheless be suillcient to overcome the tension of the return spring. 81 and permit the mechanism to release. As this operation takes place, it is obvious that the spring will instantly close the valve 22 and shut ofl the flow of liquid in time to prevent the container being filled from overflowing.

when the flow of liquid through the Venturi tube I5 is discontinued, the pressure on the opposlte sides of the diaphragm 45 will equalize and thespring pivot 12 will draw thegdiaphragm 45 outwardly and downwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 1?. I l

'When the operator releases the rear end of the valve actuating lever 32, the return spring BI will swing the toggle joint in counter-clockwise direction with suflicient force to" overcome the force of the spring I2 so that the dog 68 may snap past the latch surface 69 and assume its original position.

In the form of the device illustrated in Fig.

3, the structure of the pressure operated mechanism is identical with that heretofore described, with the exception that the block 54 on the spout is provided with an annular valve seat 55 and a screw-threaded adjusting screw 56 is arranged with a needle valve 51 adapted to be adjustablymoved toward the valve seat 55 to provide an adjustment for the restriction of the vent passageway, Thus, while the block 54 is positioned entirely within the nozzle spout II and is therefore entirely protected against accidental damage, the screw 56 may be easily reached by inserting a screw driver in the open lower end of the spout. By this arrangement, the restriction of the air inlet to the cavity may be adjusted so that the device will be readily responsive to specified changes in pressure.

The structure of the force-reduction linkage is also identical with that heretofore described, except that the toggle joint consists of a pair of short links I5 urg'edin counterclockwise direction by coiled spring I5 and pivoted to a single center link It by a center pivot I9. The link I3 is shaped to contact the anchor pivot 14 after the toggle joint has reached its dead center position,-so that unless some external force is brought to bear on the toggle joint the force exerted by the valve spring 26 and transmitted to the valve pivot 33 will not cause any movement on the part of the pivot pin 33 or any of the toggle mechanism. In this form of the dos vice the toggle is not latched, but the pivot I3 of the diaphragm post 49 is connected to the long end III of the bell crank 82. The crank 52 is mounted on astationary mounting pivot 33, and its short end is provided with a contact--v lng element or toggle-actuator portion 84 arranged to bear against the link 13 at a point adjacent the center pivot I9 of the toggle joint.

In the operation of the form of the device illustrated in Fig. 3, the operator will grasp the valve body I I of the nozzle in the same manner as heretofore described, and will operate the valve lever 32-to open the valve 22 and permit the flow of liquid through the nozzle and outwardly through the spout. The only difference in function in this connection is in the fact that the toggle joint is not latched in operating position but has moved into or past the dead center position so that it is self-maintaining and will not release unless urged by an external force. In this form of the invention, however, the diaphragm 45 is arranged with a toggle-actuator'to apply force to the center pivot of the toggle joint to effect the release operation. Thus, whenever the restricted orifice at the nozzle tip is closed, the action of the air passing through the air chamber Sis identical with the form heretofore described, but the operation of the external release linkage is somewhat different.

In this form of the invention, when the orifice at the tip of the spout is closed by the rising level of the liquid, the diaphragm will snap upwardly to exert an upward force on the long end of the bell crank 82. Theactuator portion 84 or short end of the bell crank will then move to the right to engage the toggle joint and force it off of its dead center position, whereupon the pressure of the valve spring 26 will act to snap it downwardly into fully released position.

when the toggle linkage is used without any latch, it is considered preferable to arrange the structures so that the toggle lies at exactly dead center position or slightly beyond the dead center, in order to prevent any possibility of accidental release. Similarly, with the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the pivots of the toggle joint are arranged to reach their limit of movement some distance short of the dead center position, so that the force acting to bias the toggle will be substantial, and the friction inherent in the toggle joint cannot under any circumstances [prevent release of the toggle when illustrated inFig. 4, it should be kept in mind that in any mechanical structure the factor of cost is an extremely important consideration, and thatthe development of any type of device which aids in adapting the structure to high speed methods of production comprises a valuable contribution to the art. It follows, of course, that a structure mechanically designed to permit wide dimensional tolerances in the manufacture of the individual parts and in assembly possesses marked advantages over any type of device requiring close tolerances or accurate assembly methods.

It should also be appreciated that great advantages may be gained by the use of a structure so designed as to operate successfully irrespective of the exact position of the toggle and arranged so that variable factors of friction, wear, corrosion, etc., do not materially affect the functioning of the device.

In the structure shown in Fig. 4, the toggle joint is identical with the toggle shown in- Flg. 3, except that the upper end of the link 18 is provided with a hook 88 arranged to engage a latch 88 on the bell crank 82. The arrangement is such that the hook 86 and latch 88 will engage and positively maintain the toggle against re-' lease. When the diaphragm 46 is operated, howthe latch is released. In either case, the mechanical connection with the pressure responsive diaphragm is such that the diaphragm has a decided mechanical advantage, with respect to the latch or actuator that engages the toggle, so that small pressure differences on the opposite sides of the diaphragm will be sufiicient for positive operation of the mechanism.

It has been previously mentioned that the toggle joint illustrated in Fig. 3 should preferably be set at the exact dead center position or slightly beyond, in order to'prevent any possibility of accidental release. This should not be taken to mean that the device would be entirely inoperative if it should be positioned just short of dead center, since any mechanical device has a certain amount of inherent friction and if the toggle is sufficiently close to dead center the very small force of bias will normally be too small to overcome the friction of the linkage. It does mean, however, that if the toggle is in any position short of dead center it will be in what may be termed a critical condition where its successful operation would depend on the maintenance of a rather delicate balance of forces, so that the biasing force would be present but would be insuflicient to overcome the inherent friction of the device. Thus, unless the parts are delicately balanced and accurately constructed and assem- 'bled, the critical position of the links is to be avoided. Similarly, the form of device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be successfully used with the toggle joint positioned at a greater or less angle than illustrated. Here, again, however, a critical position of the toggle joint is to be avoided, since the biasing force should unfailingly break the toggle whenever the latch is released.

vA second modified form of the invention, illustrated in Fig. 4, includes force-reduction linkages having a peculiar combination and arrangements of structures whereby certain marked and unobvious advantages are gained over either of the linkage arrangements heretofore described.

In considering the advantages of the structure ever, the latch 88 will be released and the toggle actuator 84 will concurrently urge the toggle toward released position.

This structure is particularly advantageous in that it permits satisfactory operation'of the device with the toggle in a critical position and. since the toggle is very sensitive in such a position, the force required for dependable actuation of the release is extremely small. That is, when the toggle is positioned short of dead center, it will be subject to a small biasing force which, while not suflicient to be depended upon to effect release in and of itself, renders it very sensitive to the releasing force applied thereto by the actuator 84.

The construction and arrangement is such that the very slight bias of the toggle joint toward its broken position will be insuflicient to cause any perceptible amount of friction between the latching surfaces which would tend to resist the releasing action of the latch and at the same time when the latch is released, if the bias is insufficient to cause actuation of the toggle, it will be obvious that only a very small force by the actuator will be sufficient to break the toggle and snap it into released position.

The utility of this form of the device is particularly useful when the toggle is set in critical position, since it permits the release of the toggle with a smaller actuating force than would otherwise be required. It is also advantageous in that it will accommodate itself to wide tolerances in manufacture and assembly and will function satisfactorily. Even in the event that the toggle joint is bent or improperly assembled to the point that it is beyond dead center, or not closely approaching the dead center position, the operation will be satisfactory, since in such cases the device vwill operate as described in connection with the forms of the device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The modified form of valve construction illus-' trated in Fig. 5 of the drawings is arranged so that the sealing surfaces of the valve seat act as a part of the Venturi tube of the device. With this arrangement, the'valve seat 9| is beveled at about 45 angle as is customary in devices of this kind, but the present structure diflers sharply from the conventional in that the lower portion of the valve seat is counterbored and threaded to receive 7 annular channel 94 and circular air passage 9 3.

with the air chamber 45 heretofore described.

The valveincludes a sealing portion 96 beveled to fit against the seat 9| and a lower portion 91 tapering downwardly from the lower surface of the portion 96 at anangle of about 20. I

In operation, the valve structure acts as a Venturi tube to exert suction on the diaphragm l6, and the'structure is advantageous in that it operates successfully either under full flow, with the valve 96 raised well above the seat 9|, or at very small rates of'flow, when the valve is only raised a small fraction of its full movement.

When the valve portion 96 is raised from the seat 9| the fluid passageway will be of uniform thickness across the width of the valve seat, but inasmuch as the seat is tapered at about a 45 angle and of diminishing diameter toward its lowermost edge the velocity of the liquid will be g-reatest at that point. The air inlet to venturi is immediately below the valve seat 9| and the fluid flowing beyond the lower edge of the valve seat is confined between the cylindrical inner wall of the ring 92 and the tapered surface of the lower portion 91 of the valve. These surfaces act in the same manner as the outwardly flared discharge passage of a conventional Venturi tube. The valve structure acts as a venturi and the lower edge of the valve seat acts as the vena contracta. Thus, even when the valve is opened to only a small fraction of its maximum rate of flow, the velocity of the liquid at the lower edge of the valve seat will be very'high and will be effective to exert adequate suction to' operate the dia phragm Ii.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that by following the teachings of the present invention a pressure operated automatic. shut-oil nozzle may be provided wherein the structure will be equally adapted to satisfactory operation under conditions of partial or restricted liquid flow, as well as full flow.

It will also be apparent that by following the teachings of the present invention, a; novel and improved gasoline dispensing nozzle may be provided having automatic shut-oil devices of improved design and construction whereby the operation of the relatively heavy shut-off valve spring may be eventually and positively controlled by a, simple, rugged mechanism adapted to be operated by comparatively small forces, not apt to be subject to mechanical failures, and not including any unnecessarily complex structures.

It will also be seen that the mechanical movement here disclosed is well suited to the control of relatively large forces responsive to controlling forces of minute magnitude since the force acting on thepin 33 is primarily maintained by the toggle joint, but are controlled by the latch or the toggle actuator. Thus. the relatively small forces exerted by the diaphragm are entirely effective to release the forces of far greater magnitude exerted by the valve spring 26, with the result that the structure may be arranged to positively respond to the small difierences in pressure incident to the submerging of the nozzle tip beneath the surface of the liquid.

.Further, by following the teachings of this invention, it' is possible to provide a novel mechanical movement, whereby great forces may be effectively maintained without danger of accidental release and yet may be positively and efliciently released in response 'to forces of minute magnitude as compared to the magnitude of the original force.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, I am aware that it is subject to numerous modifications and variations without departing from the invention spirit and I therefore wish to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A dispensing nozzle having a normally closed valve, manually operated means to open the valve and-release it for closing, and automatic means torelease the valve when the tip of the nozzle is submerged, said means comprising a toggle for holding the manually operated means inoperative position, a diaphragm exposed to suction from the material flowing through the nozzle and to the atmosphere through a vent in the tip of the nozzle, and a latch lever for the togglepivoted at one end on the nozzle and at the other end on the dia-' phragm and having a latch projection between the ends for engaging the toggle to lock it in holding position.

' tipof the nozzle, and a toggle latch connected to the diaphragm and having a projection, said toggle being composed of two hinged links having their ends pivoted to the nozzle and to the manually operated means respectively at points more closely spaced than the length of one'of the links, the hinge of the toggle when in holding position being outside of and substantially in line with the end pivots and the latch projection engaging the hinge before it reaches dead center position.

3. A dispensing nozzle according to claim 2 in which the latch'has an arm engaging the hinge on the opposite side from the latch projection to urge the toggle into unlocked position when the latch is released by the diaphragm if thetoggle has passed beyond dead center position.

4. A dispensing nozzle having a valve normally biased to closed position, a handle to open the valve and release it for closing, and automatic.

means operable to release the valve in spite of continued pressure on the handle when the tip of the nozzle is submerged during dispensin said means comprising a pivot for the handle shiftable from a. position in which the handle is operative to open the valve and hold it open and one in which the valve is released in spite of manual pressure on the handle, a diaphragm, a toggle for holding the pivot in the operative handle position,, and. a diaphragm-operated member having a projection for holding the toggle in locking position short of dead center and an actuator for urging the toggle from a position at or beyond dead center to release the pivot, said diaphragm being responsive to differential pressures within the nozzle.

5. A dispensing nozzle having a normally closed valve, manually operated means to open the valve and release it for closing, and automatic means operable while the manual means is in opening position to release the valve when the tip of the nozzle is submerged, said automatic means comprising a toggle linkage to maintain the manually operated means in operative position, a diaphragm responsive to differential pressure within the nozzle, and a two-armed lever constituting an actuator for the toggle pivoted on the nozzle and on the diaphragm and engaging the hinge oi the toggle to urge it from a position at or beyond dead center.

6. A nozzle as defined in claim in which the two-armed lever has a latch projection engaging the hinge portion of the toggle to hold it locked when in a position short of dead center.

7. An automatic dispensing nozzle having a valve normally biased to closed position, a handle to open the valve or release it for closing, and means operable to release the valve independently of the handle, when the liquid level in the container being filled rises above the tip of the nozzle, a slotted irame carried by said nozzle and supporting and protecting said means and handle, said means comprising a pivot for said handle shiftably mounted in the slots of said frame, forming in one extreme position afulcrum for manual operation of the handle but in the other extreme position rendering the handle inoperative, a diaphragm responsive to variations of pressure in the nozzle, a toggle for holding the pivot in operative position, said toggle having a link engaging the handle pivot and a link connected to the frame, the frame connection lying between the hinge of the toggle and the handle pivot when the toggle islocked, and a latch operated by the diaphragm and having means engaging behind the hinge when it is near dead center position.

8. A nozzle as defined in claim 7, the latch having means to engage the toggle hinge on the side opposite the latch to urge it to imlocked po-' sition if it has passed into or beyond dead center position.

9. A dispensing nozzle having a normally closed valve, manually operated means to open the valve and release it for closing, and automatic means operable while the manual means is in opening position to release the valve when the tip of the nozzle is submerged, said auto-' matichneans comprising a toggle linkage adapted to be folded to hold the manuallyoperated means in position for operating the valve, a diaphragm mounted in a; chamber which is subjected to suction from the material being dispensed and vented at a point adjacent the tip of the nozzle, and a latch lever for the toggle pivrocating valve head having a tapered portion adapted to fit the tapered seat and a tapered projection extending through the cylindrical portion of the bore to form an expansion passage for the fluid flowing through the valve, the cylindrical bore being enlarged below the valve seat to form an annular shoulder, and a bushing in said bore terminating in line with and spaced from said shoulder, said bushing havinga recess around its outer face at the end adjacent the shoulder, whereby an annular groove is provided having an annular mouth of less width than the body of the groove, there being a channel leading from said groove through the casing, said groove and channel being subjected to suction by the fluid enterin the expansion passage of the valve.

j 'iCER'I'IFIjCATE- 0F .ooRREcmIoN. Patent No; 2,5515209. July 25, 191414..

' LCHELL F. HAMMAND.

It is hereby certified that error ,appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, lines 21 and 22 strike out the words "because they"; line 25 after "fluid" and before the period insert --or because their design and construction was such that the entirenozzle' structure was bulky and awkward to handle--; line 511, after "mechanism." insert the following paragraphs In automatic shut-off devices of the prior art known to the applicant the dispensing nozzles have been characterized. by unusually bulky and complicated constructions of design andproportion extremelydivergent fromfthe conventional types of apparatus inuse in the gasoline dispensing field. ,,'I his'is regarded as a distinct disadvantage for any commercial adaptation, first, because it makes the operati'onof the dispensing nozzle inconvenient anddifficult' for operators accustomed to conventionalnozzle devices; second, because the complicated nozzle structures do not present aneat and streamlined compact I appearance and are objectionable as a matter of external design and, third, because nozzles cannot be used for replacement in gasoline pumps or 1 other: associated equipment having nozzle racks, nozzle hooks ,f OI locking devices arranged and dimensioned to accommodate nozzle structures "of the conventional types now known in the art.- I I To overcome these objections, the present invention contem plates an improved type of shut-off, mechanism, and anovel structural arrangement for the entire nozzle shut-off mechanism including fi e pressure operated diaphragn, pressure -reduction linkages, and latch 'mechanisms whereby the automatic mechanisms are so positioned and correlatedas topre sent anozzle of compact arrangement and streamlinedappearance, not differing materially-fromfthe exterior appearance or external dimensions of conventional dispensing nozzles now in use {Another object of 'the"inventi'on is to provide apressure actuated diaphragm or equi valent pressure responsive element located betw'een .the outlet passageway of. the nozzle and the pivotal mounting of the valve handle to provide a nozzle of neat-appearance and compact mechanical arra'ngement I Another objectof the invention is to provide" 'a gasoline dispensing nozzle including a handle. portionand discharge spout together with ashut-cff valve arranged. at an acute angle to the 8118' o: the spout with the automatic shut-off mechanismpositioned wholly within an acute angle between the spout and the valve to provide. automatic nozzle of ompact mechanical structure and neat-appearance.

correction therein that the same may confom to. the record of the case in the Patent Office.

the body portion, a spout extending forwardly and downwardly from the body portion, and valve operating means located below the body portion and within the acute angle formed by the valve stem ani the spout, said means comprising a guard extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front of the body portion to a point rearwardly of the valve stem, a .lever pivoted on the guard for operative engagement with. the valve stem to open the valve and means to release the valve for; closing when the tip of the spout is submerged, said last-mentioned means having apressure-responsivediaphragm mounted on the bottom of the body portion within the guard and having restricted communication'with said dispensing passage.

l2. Avalve and nozzle assembly for a dispensing li prising abody portion having adispensing passage therethrough} a normally closed valve in said passage havinga mQVflble Valve stem projecting downwardly from the body portion, a spout extending forwardly and downwardlyfrom the body portion, a pivoted'handl extending. longitudinally of the body and engaging the valve stem to open the valve and release it for closing, and automatic means positioned in the angle between the spout and the valve stem and operable to release the valve in spite of continued manual pressure on the handle when the 'tip of the spout is submerged during dispensing, said means having communication with the dispensing passage within said angle andbeing responsive to pressures within said body portion and spout.

inthe heading to the printed specification, line 5, for "10 Claims" read -l2 Claims--;. and that the said Letters ,.Pa te'nt should be read with this Signed and sealed this 17th day of October, A. D. 19%.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) .Aoting Commissioner of Patents. 

